Raleigh, N.C. – Richard Burr’s approval rating continues to inch downward, from 36%-33% approval-disapproval in January, to 35-35 in February, to 35-37 in March.  This month, only 32% of North Carolina voters approve of Burr’s job performance, with 41% reporting disapproval. 

The negative movement seems to come from independents, who mirror his general rating at 31-43 versus 37-35 in March, and his fellow Republicans, who are down to 57-18 from 64-12 last month.

Burr’s standing against a generic Democratic opponent in his Senate re-election race has rebounded slightly since March’s 41-39 margin, now garnering 43% against a still unnamed Democrat at 38%. 

But while the three leading Democratic candidates still trail Burr, two of them lag by narrower margins than last month.  Burr tops Elaine Marshall 43-37, and beats both Cal Cunningham and Kenneth Lewis 43-35.  Though 70-87% of voters still express no opinion of these Democrats, their numbers versus Burr are beginning to align more closely with the generic ballot figures as the primary approaches.

“Even though Richard Burr continues to lead in the horserace, he shouldn’t feel too comfortable,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.  “Each Democratic contender is trailing by single digits, despite the fact few voters know who they are.  If Burr’s approval rating continues to plummet, he could be in trouble once the Democratic victor is chosen and the campaign begins in earnest.”

PPP will release numbers tomorrow looking at Bev Perdue’s standing in the state.

PPP surveyed 742 North Carolina voters from April 8^th to 11^th.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.6%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic
Senator Kay Hagan’s job performance? If you
approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve ……………… 34%
Disapprove………….. 44%
Not Sure……………… 22%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Republican
Senator Richard Burr’s job performance? If
you approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press
2. If you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 32%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 41%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 27%

Q3 Generally speaking, next year would you vote
to reelect Republican Richard Burr or vote for
his Democratic opponent? If you would vote for
Burr, press 1. If you would vote for his
Democratic opponent, press 2. If you’re not
sure, press 3.
Burr……………………………………………………….. 43%
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 38%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 19%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Cal Cunningham? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable ………….. 5%
Unfavorable……….. 8%
Not Sure……………. 87%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kenneth Lewis? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not Sure………………………………………………….. 84%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Elaine Marshall? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable………………………………………………… 19%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not Sure………………………………………………….. 70%

Q7 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican
Richard Burr, who would you vote for? If Cal
Cunningham, press 1. If Richard Burr, press 2.
If you’re undecided, press 3.
Cunningham …………………………………………… 35%
Burr……………………………………………………….. 43%
Undecided………………………………………………. 22%

Q8 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Democrat Kenneth Lewis and Republican
Richard Burr, who would you vote for? If
Kenneth Lewis, press 1. If Richard Burr, press
2. If you’re undecided, press 3.
Lewis………………………………………………………. 35%
Burr………………………………………………………… 43%
Undecided……………………………………………….. 22%

Q9 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Democrat Elaine Marshall and Republican
Richard Burr, who would you vote for? If
Elaine Marshall, press 1. If Richard Burr, press
2. If you’re undecided, press 3.
Marshall …………………………………………………. 37%
Burr……………………………………………………….. 43%
Undecided………………………………………………. 20%

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